About Matt Forbeck
Matt Forbeck is an award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author and game designer with a career spanning over three decades. With more than 35 novels and countless games to his name, Matt’s projects have garnered critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award, a Scribe Award, and numerous ENNIE and Origins Awards. He is also the president of the Diana Jones Award Foundation, which celebrates excellence in gaming. His work spans iconic brands like Marvel, Warhammer 40,000, Dungeons & Dragons, Minecraft, and Halo, as well as original creations such as Shotguns & Sorcery.
In this episode, Matt dives into his extraordinary journey, from freelancing fresh out of college to creating acclaimed projects like the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game and Hard West 2. He shares lessons learned as a game designer, writer, and mentor, offering invaluable advice on building a sustainable creative career. Whether you're an aspiring creator or an industry veteran, Matt’s inspiring blend of passion, humility, and expertise is sure to resonate. Fun fact: he’s also the proud father of five, including a set of quadruplets—a feat that may rival even his most ambitious creative endeavors!
Ah-ha! Justin’s Takeaways
Taking Risks Without Fear of Failure: Matt’s career exemplifies the power of calculated risk-taking and embracing uncertainty. From flying to the UK on a one-way ticket and knocking on Games Workshop’s door to launching his own zine at 17, Matt repeatedly demonstrated the importance of putting yourself out there. What struck me was his mindset—failure wasn’t something to fear but a stepping stone for growth. This reminded me of how critical it is to view challenges as opportunities, a mindset I’ve applied in my own journey from dropping out of law school to designing games.
Balancing Passion with Practicality: Matt’s approach to freelancing highlights a core lesson: live within your means to create space for creative freedom. His ability to live frugally early in his career allowed him to focus on his passion for writing and game design without being shackled by financial pressures. This episode reinforced the idea that keeping overhead low and staying flexible can empower creators to pursue what they love while mitigating risks—a principle I’ve seen hold true for entrepreneurs and creatives alike.
The Art of Collaboration: One of Matt’s key takeaways is how crucial collaboration is in creative industries. Whether as an editor, designer, or developer, his role was often to refine and amplify someone else’s vision rather than impose his own. This philosophy resonates deeply with me, especially in game design, where teamwork and understanding a creator’s intent are vital to success. Matt’s emphasis on communication, knowing when to stick to the rules, and when to break them reminded me of the collaborative processes that have shaped my own projects, like SolForge Fusion.
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Show Notes:
“At the time, I didn’t think it was anything special. It was just what I was going to do—we’ll see what happens.” (00:07:02)
Matt discusses his early experiences, from creating a zine and running a Gen Con booth at 17 to flying to England and landing a job at Games Workshop by sheer determination. His fearless approach to taking risks without overthinking them is a powerful lesson for anyone pursuing a creative career. Matt’s mindset of embracing uncertainty and being open to possibilities highlights the importance of taking bold steps toward your goals, even when success isn’t guaranteed.
“If you can crank out 25,000 words a week, it doesn’t take long to write a book.” (00:17:23)
Matt shares his disciplined approach to writing and how early lessons in freelancing taught him the value of confidence and productivity. By creating detailed outlines and working with efficiency, Matt was able to produce novels and game content at an absurdly impressive pace. This segment emphasizes the importance of planning and trusting your process to bypass your creative blocks.
“Your job as a developer is not to design the game you want—it’s to make the game the designer brought to you the best it possibly can be.” (00:28:50)
Matt talks about his role as a developer and editor, explaining the balance of improving someone else’s vision while staying true to its core concept. His collaborative philosophy emphasizes how critical listening and understanding are in creative fields. This lesson is valuable for aspiring developers or anyone working in a team-driven industry, where the goal is to amplify others' work, not override it.
“Being able to live cheaply is a superpower.” (00:34:21)
While discussing the realities of freelancing, Matt teaches us how keeping costs low early in his career enabled him to focus on creative pursuits without being paralyzed by financial stress. This practical advice sheds light on the connection between financial flexibility and creative freedom, offering a valuable perspective for anyone navigating the unpredictable nature of artistic work.
"In general, always simplify. Simplify, simplify, simplify. We always try to be too clever, but often, the simplest solution is the best one." (00:54:40)
Matt describes the tendency for game designers to overcomplicate their work in an effort to impress their peers or stand out. Drawing from personal experience, he highlights how simplifying designs not only makes games more accessible but also broadens their appeal to a wider audience. This lesson the importance of clarity and audience focus in creative projects.
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